SITCE – Circular Economy
Portugal 2030
The SITECE – Circular Economy Algarve support program assists SMEs in implementing water circularity projects, promoting the efficient reuse of water resources in production processes. Solutions include the reuse of wastewater for washing, toilets, irrigation of common areas, and other practices that reduce waste and increase the sustainability of companies.
Programme Status
Open
Financing
Up to 60% Non-Refundable Grant
Territory
Algarve (NUTS II)
Eligible Entities
SMEs (Individual and
Co-Promotion Projects)
SITCE – Circular Economy
Portugal 2030
The SITECE – Circular Economy Algarve support program assists SMEs in implementing water circularity projects, promoting the efficient reuse of water resources in production processes. Solutions include the reuse of wastewater for washing, toilets, irrigation of common areas, and other practices that reduce waste and increase the sustainability of companies.
Programme Status
Open
Financing
Up to 60% Non-Refundable Grant
Territory
Algarve (NUTS II)
Eligible Entities
SMEs (Individual and Co-Promotion Projects)
Incentive Conditions
- Projects focused on water circularity within companies, aiming to optimise resource use and promote circularity through the reconversion of production processes.
- Water circularity projects support the implementation of best available techniques and good practices for the efficient reuse of water in production processes, including, for example:
- Reuse of wastewater for washing purposes;
- Sanitary systems;
- Optimisation of irrigation systems for green and common areas;
- Among other applications.
- Projects related to the irrigation of golf courses are not eligible for support.
- Algarve (NUTS II)
- The operation must be located in the region where the beneficiary’s establishment is based and where the investment will be implemented.
- PME
- Non-business entities from the Research and Innovation System (ENESII) may also participate as co-promoters.
- Operations submitted under co-promotion must involve effective collaboration between companies and ENESII entities, or exclusively between companies, with the lead entity being obligatorily a company.
- Up to 60% Non-Refundable Grant
- For Companies
- Innovation Activities
- Base Rate:
- 20% of eligible expenses
- Additional Bonus Rates:
- Company Size:
- +20 percentage points for small enterprises
- +10 percentage points for medium-sized enterprises
- Location:
- +5 percentage points for operations located in territories covered by the 2022–2027 Regional Aid Map approved by the European Commission
- Regional Objectives:
- +10 percentage points for Water Reuse Incorporation Projects (ApR) integrated into the economic activity carried out by the company
- R&D Activities
- Base Rate:
- 20% of eligible expenses
- Additional Bonus Rates:
- Company Size:
- +20 percentage points for small enterprises
- +10 percentage points for medium-sized enterprises
- Effective Collaboration and/or Wide Dissemination of Results:
- +15 percentage points
- Sectoral Policy Priorities:
- +5 percentage points for Water Reuse Incorporation Projects (ApR) integrated into the economic activity carried out by the company
- For ENESII Entities
- Up to 60% Non-Refundable Grant
- Companies – Innovation Activities
- Tangible assets
- Acquisition of machinery and equipment, directly attributable costs required to place them in their intended location and operating condition, as well as computer equipment and software necessary for their operation;
- Intangible assets
- Technology transfer through the acquisition of national and international patent rights;
- Licences, non-patented technical knowledge, and standard or specifically developed software;
- Other investment expenses
- Costs related to certified accountants or statutory auditors for validating payment claims;
- Engineering services
- Studies, diagnostics and audits
- Studies or reports related to compliance with the “Do No Significant Harm” Principle, as defined in Article 8 of REITD;
- Marketing plans;
- Architecture and engineering projects and services.
- In duly justified cases:
- the construction of buildings, renovation works and other construction activities may also be eligible.
- R&D Activities
- Costs related to the beneficiary’s technical staff dedicated to R&D activities, including scholarship holders and seconded personnel whose remuneration is supported by the beneficiary;
- Costs related to the acquisition of patents from external sources or licensed patents acquired at market prices and effectively internalised by the beneficiary;
- Costs related to raw materials and consumables;
- Costs associated with acquiring components necessary for pilot, experimental or demonstration installations and prototype construction;
- Costs related to the acquisition of third-party services, including technical assistance, scientific support and consultancy, as well as costs arising from the use of open innovation and crowdsourcing electronic platforms directly linked to the operation;
- Costs related to the acquisition of instruments, scientific and technical equipment, and specific software demonstrably necessary for the implementation of the operation.
- For entities subject to State Aid rules, only amortisation costs corresponding to the period of use within the operation are considered eligible;
- Costs associated with the certification process of research, development and innovation management systems certified under NP 4457:2021;
- Expenses related to technical-scientific auditors, where applicable, and certified accountants or statutory auditors for validating payment claims;
- Indirect costs.
Incentive Conditions
Projects focused on water circularity within companies, aiming to optimise resource use and promote circularity through the reconversion of production processes.
Water circularity projects support the implementation of best available techniques and good practices for the efficient reuse of water in production processes, including, for example:
Reuse of wastewater for washing purposes;
Sanitary systems;
Optimisation of irrigation systems for green and common areas;
Among other applications.
Projects related to the irrigation of golf courses are not eligible for support.
Algarve (NUTS II)
The operation must be located in the region where the beneficiary’s establishment is based and where the investment will be implemented.
PME
Non-business entities from the Research and Innovation System (ENESII) may also participate as co-promoters.
Operations submitted under co-promotion must involve effective collaboration between companies and ENESII entities, or exclusively between companies, with the lead entity being obligatorily a company.
Up to 60% Non-Refundable Grant
For Companies
Innovation Activities
Base Rate:
20% of eligible expenses
Additional Bonus Rates:
Company Size:
+20 percentage points for small enterprises
+10 percentage points for medium-sized enterprises
Location:
+5 percentage points for operations located in territories covered by the 2022–2027 Regional Aid Map approved by the European Commission
Regional Objectives:
+10 percentage points for Water Reuse Incorporation Projects (ApR) integrated into the economic activity carried out by the company
R&D Activities
Base Rate:
20% of eligible expenses
Additional Bonus Rates:
Company Size:
+20 percentage points for small enterprises
+10 percentage points for medium-sized enterprises
Effective Collaboration and/or Wide Dissemination of Results:
+15 percentage points
Sectoral Policy Priorities:
+5 percentage points for Water Reuse Incorporation Projects (ApR) integrated into the economic activity carried out by the company
For ENESII Entities
Up to 60% Non-Refundable Grant
Companies – Innovation Activities
Tangible assets
Acquisition of machinery and equipment, directly attributable costs required to place them in their intended location and operating condition, as well as computer equipment and software necessary for their operation;
Intangible assets
Technology transfer through the acquisition of national and international patent rights;
Licences, non-patented technical knowledge, and standard or specifically developed software;
Other investment expenses
Costs related to certified accountants or statutory auditors for validating payment claims;
Engineering services
Studies, diagnostics and audits
Studies or reports related to compliance with the “Do No Significant Harm” Principle, as defined in Article 8 of REITD;
Marketing plans;
Architecture and engineering projects and services.
In duly justified cases:
the construction of buildings, renovation works and other construction activities may also be eligible.
R&D Activities
Costs related to the beneficiary’s technical staff dedicated to R&D activities, including scholarship holders and seconded personnel whose remuneration is supported by the beneficiary;
Costs related to the acquisition of patents from external sources or licensed patents acquired at market prices and effectively internalised by the beneficiary;
Costs related to raw materials and consumables;
Costs associated with acquiring components necessary for pilot, experimental or demonstration installations and prototype construction;
Costs related to the acquisition of third-party services, including technical assistance, scientific support and consultancy, as well as costs arising from the use of open innovation and crowdsourcing electronic platforms directly linked to the operation;
Costs related to the acquisition of instruments, scientific and technical equipment, and specific software demonstrably necessary for the implementation of the operation.
For entities subject to State Aid rules, only amortisation costs corresponding to the period of use within the operation are considered eligible;
Costs associated with the certification process of research, development and innovation management systems certified under NP 4457:2021;
Expenses related to technical-scientific auditors, where applicable, and certified accountants or statutory auditors for validating payment claims;
Indirect costs.
